April 15, 2008

Where have you gone Darius Miles? : Former basketball phenom Darius Miles waived by the Trailblazers after the team, and an independent doctor appointed by the NBA, deem his injuries "career-ending".

read story | posted by lilnemo to Basketball at 11:17 AM CDT (12 comments total)

The team will pay Miles the remaining $27.5 M left on the contract, which will not count against the cap. The team will collect $6.6 M in insurance, and save over $3.5 M in luxury tax penalties this year. This gives the Trailblazers between $25-$33 M to play with for free agency '10.

Though Miles has been waived with a "career-ending" injury he can sign with another team once he clears waivers.

*knuckles to forehead*
*.*

posted by lilnemo at 11:25 AM CDT on April 15

Maybe the Clips should bring him back. After all, things can't get worse.

posted by SFValley_Dude at 12:29 PM CDT on April 15

Though Miles has been waived with a "career-ending" injury he can sign with another team once he clears waivers.

*knuckles to forehead*

"If Miles does sign with another team and plays in 10 games in either of the next two seasons, his salary goes back on the Blazers' books."

This sounds like a defense team in a trial going to as many "experts" as it takes until they find one who will agree with their side of the case.

posted by chamo at 12:36 PM CDT on April 15

This sounds like a defense team in a trial going to as many "experts" as it takes until they find one who will agree with their side of the case.

How exactly? The Blazers had to have the NBA bring in a third party to ensure such a scenario wouldn't happen. Otherwise the Blazers are stuck with Miles and his contract.

posted by lilnemo at 1:06 PM CDT on April 15

The team will pay Miles the remaining $27.5 M left on the contract, which will not count against the cap.

David Stern really does hate the Celtics. Where was this when Reggie Lewis died? When Dino Radja should have died?

posted by yerfatma at 1:43 PM CDT on April 15

I guess the main thing is whether his career has really been ended because of the injury. The article brings up the fact that Miles can sign with another team upon clearing waivers. The article also states that it is uncertain whether Miles has the desire to play. If Miles does end up playing again, whether in the next two years or after, his injury couldn't really be classified as "career-ending". Maybe the league's intentions for bringing in the third party was to ensure the scenario I described earlier wouldn't happen, but my feeling is that David Stern is most concerned about taking care of team owners. That being the case, finding an outside doctor to proclaim the injury career-ending is very beneficial to Paul Allen.

posted by chamo at 1:47 PM CDT on April 15

Well, beneficial to Allen except for the $21 million the team still has to cough up. So not 100% dream result. Not 0% either, just not 100%.

posted by billsaysthis at 2:19 PM CDT on April 15

The article brings up the fact that Miles can sign with another team upon clearing waivers. The article also states that it is uncertain whether Miles has the desire to play. If Miles does end up playing again, whether in the next two years or after, his injury couldn't really be classified as "career-ending".

If the Blazers wanted rid of Miles they could have bought him out. They'd take a hit on his cap number, but they'd be rid of him. Or they could have traded him off to another team for picks and parts. But they didn't. Does involving the league and its independent doctor benefit the Blazers? Sure. It gets Miles off of the cap. But the league isn't in the business of letting teams off the hook for luxury tax considerations. The bit of business in the article about Miles joining another team? Yes he absolutely could. Just like Keith Van Horn did. Until Miles files retirement papers, any contract he signs makes him a financial commodity, not an on court asset. He had microfracture, so the odds of him coming back are unknown. Kidd and Amare have come back from it. Houston, and Penny did not.

If Miles "had the desire to play" and his injury wasn't career threatening why wouldn't he suit up for the Blazers? Allen loves him, the article makes that plain. Cheeks is gone. Ditto Randolph. The team as a whole, are a pretty likeable bunch. They're up and coming, and have the talent to challenge for the playoffs for the next few years. I just don't see the nefarious machinations of the League Office at work here.

posted by lilnemo at 2:42 PM CDT on April 15

You're probably right, I was just throwing out my first impression.

posted by chamo at 2:57 PM CDT on April 15

/bangs fists on head, calls Zach Randolph

It could have been a brilliant career . . .

posted by yerfatma at 8:35 PM CDT on April 15

Good move by the Blazers. He was dead weight and didn't represent the STL how he should have. He was always injured and they should have cut him like 2 or 3 years ago. The Blazers now have a good young team with Roy, Aldridge, and Greg Oden will probably play next year. Mark my words, the Portland TrailBlazers are going to make the playoffs next year in the tough west.

posted by Scars at 8:44 PM CDT on April 16

Remember the starting lineup for the Cavs when LeBron first entered the league?

C Ilgauskas
F Boozer
F D. Miles
G Ricky Davis
G LeBron

One of the sloppiest-playing teams I've ever seen in the NBA. As I recall the Cavs blew up this lineup just about as quickly as humanly possible. It was fun to watch for a few games though!

posted by Venicemenace at 12:24 PM CDT on April 17

« older "Tech doping"? How Speedo's LZ… WHAT GIVES, GUYS? Nelson says … newer »

This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments.